White Lake to host ice racing event

The thrills and chills of winter ice racing come once again to the surface of White Lake on Saturday and Sunday.

The White Lake Ice Races is an annual all-terrain vehicle and motorcycle racing event on the frozen surface of White Lake. The ATVs and bikes are modified with various parts such as studded tires to improve their performance on the ice.

Jeremiah Sherman, the event’s creator and promoter, said he had to cut back on promotion for the event, focusing more on word-of-mouth since racers from across the nation will flock to the lake.

“It’s to cut down people attending a little,” he said. “Just so it’s a little safer of an event. I want to concentrate on locals and people from OaklandCounty.”

The event usually draws a crowd, with nearly 1,700 tickets sold in one day in a previous year’s race. Part of that appeal is the equipment and cash payouts offered, estimated to reach up to $15,000 this year, Sherman said.

The race is dependent on the weather, but not much is going to stop those who make it out.

“The only thing that will stop this event is freezing rain or an unsafe level of ice on the lake” Sherman said. “If it’s snowy or sleety, or windy, we’re going to race. They’re ice racers. It’s the ‘postal service’ of racing.”

This year’s ice race is not an American Motorcyclist Association District 14 event, unlike previous races, so an AMA membership is not required to register.